Cibola National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1964 as mitigation for the straightening, channelization, and armoring of the banks of the Colorado River by the Bureau of Reclamation to prevent flooding. The purpose of the 18,444-acre refuge is to protect and recreate the marshes, backwaters, and meanders that historically provided wintering grounds for migratory waterfowl and other wildlife that natural flooding would have formed. 
2026-2027 Waterfowl Season Application

The 2026–2027 Waterfowl Hunting Season is approaching. Applications will be accepted beginning September 1, 2026. Please mail or email all application materials to:

Cibola National Wildlife Refuge
ATTN: Hunt Coordinator
66600 Cibola Lake Road
Cibola, AZ 85328

Email:  SWAZ@FWS.GOV

All applications must be received or postmarked no later than November 1, 2026. Application forms are available for download from our public library.

Visit Us

Colorado river flowing through Cibola National Wildlife Refuge
Image Details

National wildlife refuges offer us all a chance to unplug from the stresses of daily life and reconnect with our natural surroundings. Visitors have an opportunity to connect with nature in multiple ways. The lower Colorado River and its backwaters provide numerous outdoor recreational opportunities as well as a vital resource: water! 

Learn more about 2025 Cibola water resources. 

Location and Contact Information

      Our Species

      Flock of pintail on a spit of land next to the marsh.
      Image Details

      Migratory birds, wintering waterfowl, and endangered and threatened species can be found at Cibola National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge contains several miles of historic river channels and backwaters that provide key habitats in a changed environment. Because of the river's life-sustaining water, wildlife thrives in this environment where temperatures reach 120 degrees in the summer and the average rainfall is two inches per year. 

      Our Library